Directed by Lance Hammer “Filmmakers are from a privileged class and tend to make films about themselves. That’s decadent and in my opinion worthless.” - Lance Hammer Ballast concerns three people tied together by one man's suicide. They live in the Mississippi Delta, but the environment feels much more out of this world than that. Hammer … Continue reading Ballast (2008)
roger ebert
Life Itself (2014)
Directed by Steve James Life Itself chronicles the career and life of famed film critic Roger Ebert. The documentary is directed by Steve James who made the four year odyssey of Hoop Dreams, another Chicago-set story and a film which Ebert himself was very fond of. The documentary begins by acknowledging Ebert's recent passing, but then … Continue reading Life Itself (2014)
Straw Dogs (1971)
Directed by Sam Peckinpah When I finally got the DVD for Straw Dogs, it came with a large watermark that said, in all caps, "BANNED IN THE UK." This is a violent movie that is likely only this well-known over 40 years later because of that violence, as the marketing reflects. The film is about two … Continue reading Straw Dogs (1971)
Gates of Heaven (1978)
Directed by Errol Morris Gates of Heaven, Errol Morris' first documentary, was destined for obscurity until Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel chose to champion the film, with Ebert putting it as one of his top ten films of all time. Like his follow up, Vernon, Florida, this documentary is composed of a series of interviews with recurring … Continue reading Gates of Heaven (1978)
The Producers (1967)
Directed by Mel Brooks It helps to know the climate into which The Producers was born and released. It's a lowbrow comedy with a series of jokes both vulgar and cheap, and the utter disbelief audiences may have had could be lost on modern audiences because of the insane amount of lowbrow comedies released since. This … Continue reading The Producers (1967)
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